Article feeding apparatus



Oct. 24, 1944. a. w. CARVEY 2,361,176

ARTICLE FEEDING APPARATUS INVENI'OR.

GEORGE I4! 011MB 733 I BY 4 ATTOR E Y.

9 1944- G. w. C-ARVEY 2,361,176

ARTICLE FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 31, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 g g *5 g 8 1 I INVENTOR. GEORGE W CAKVE? ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 24, 1944 ARTICLE FEEDING APPARATUS George W. Garvey, Cheswick, Pa., assignor to Aluminum Company of America, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 31, 1940, Serial No. 363,621

.2 Claims.

This invention relates to article feeding apparatus, particularly to apparatus for removing ar-' ticles from a stack and delivering the same in a desired manner.

The invention particularly pertains 'to apparatus for one-by-one removal of preformed caps or closures from a magazine in which they may be retained in a stack, preferably in inverted, nested relationship, and the delivery of the same to a cap or closure feeding chute from which they may be deposited on or applied to the orifices of containers. The invention contemplates controlling apparatus of the aforementioned character in response to the movement of containers receiving caps so that the number of caps removed from the magazine and delivered to the feeding chute is proportionate to the number of containers.

The invention contemplates the handling of caps of relatively thin fragile metal foil, or caps of paper or the like; which are easily crushed, distorted, mutilated, or torn. Since caps of the above character must be carefully handled, many objects of the invention may be expressed with a view to the avoidance of unnecessary injury thereto. However, the invention is not confined, nor are its objects confined, merely to the handling of caps of such character, but rather the invention contemplates the provision of apparatus for efficient handling of rigid caps, and other articles, as Well.

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus for one-by-one removal of articles from a magazine and delivery thereof to a position spaced therefrom. It is further an object to provide apparatus of this character which is capable of rapid operation without injury to the articles being so handled.

It is an object to provide apparatus for removing articles one-by-one from a stack and delivering them through a feeding chute to a discharging station. It is particularly an object to provide apparatus for removing fragile caps one-by-one from a. magazine in which they are held in nested relationship and delivering the caps through a feeding chute to a device for applying the caps to the orifices of containers.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus, for removing successive caps from a magazine and delivering them through a chute to containers, which is operable in response to movement of each container.

It is particularly an object to control the supply of caps delivered to a cap applying station so that it will be proportionate to the number of 55 containers receiving caps at the cap applying station, without having any control device in contact with the caps being fed to the cap applying station, it being desirable to avoid any unnecesiary contact of moving parts with the caps being Another object of the invention is to provide means for stopping, starting, and feeding caps with reference to the supply of containers whereby, on the failure of the supply of containers, the removal of caps from the magazine will be stopped, but there will yet be sufficient caps in the delivery chute to provide for the closing of containers then passing through or by the apparatus.

Further objects and advantages will be readily ascertainable from the following description and drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of an apparatus embodying the invention. parts being broken away to facilitate illustration and the article feeding apparatus per so being shown in cross section;

Figure 2 is a cross section of the article feeding apparatus per se shown in Figure 1 with the parts in different relative positions;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line III-III of Figure 5 showing ports in the operating valve;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line IVIV of Figure 5 likewise showing a port in the operating valve;

Figure 5 is a cross' section of the operating valve showing the valve lever and associated parts;

Figure 6 is an elevation of the apparatus shown .in Figure l but with the cover in place;

Figure '7 is a plan of the apparatus shown in Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 6.

The preferred form of article feeding apparatus shown in the drawings is adapted to the removal of caps from a magazine and the delivery thereof through a chute to a cap applying device. The apparatus comprises generally a cap magazine disposed in a vertical plane approximately at a 45 angle of elevation having a throat at the lower end thereof through which successive caps may be withdrawn. There is provided in the throat a means for retaining the stack of caps in the magazine which permits one-by-one removal thereof. Opposite the throat of the cap magazine and therebelow is the entry portion of a cap feeding chute. The cap feeding chute is disposed generally in a vertical plane which is preferably perpendicular to the aforesaid vertical plane passing through the inclined axis of the cap magazine and leads downwardly away from the throat of the cap magazine. The cap feeding chute terminates in a cap applying device which delivers caps onto the orifices 01' bottles passing thereunder in a horizontal direction.

For removing the caps from the magazine and depositing them in the cap feeding chute there is provided a "cappicking" or "cap pulling apparatus, the active element of which is a suction cup mounted on a reciprocable tube. This tube is reciprocated by a piston in an operating cylinder. During the cap engaging stroke and part of the cap wthdrawing stroke of the suction cup. suction is produced therein by the connection of the suction cup through its operating tube and piston with the intake side of a pump. A valve is provided for controlling the operating cylinder. This valve is provided with an operating lever disposed in the path of bottles passing by the cap applying device.

The apparatus shown in the drawings will now be particularly described. A main support column i is mounted on a pedestal ll (shown in Figure 7 to carry a valve support rod 12, to be hereinafter referred to. and a main frame l4 preferably thereabove. As shown'in Figures 6, 7, and 8, the main frame l4 carrying much of the internal mechanism of the device may be provided with a suitable cover It. However, in Figure 1, this cover is removed to expose the internal mechanism.

Referring particularly to Figure 1 a magazine supporting bracket It extends outwardly from the main frame I4, being integral therewith at an upper portion. This bracket It has secured thereto by suitable cap screws or the like, not

shown in the drawings, a magazine throat l8, which has its axis disposed at an angle of elevation of about 45. This magazine throat is preferably a hollow cylinder, the internal surface articles while retaining the remainder of the articles thereabove.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in 17, 1931, for a more complete disclosure of a cap;

such as the caps 3. herein shown. of course, other types of caps or other articles could be readily accommodated by the mechanism herein described.

Immediately below the sleeve 22 and in axial alignment with the magazine throat it, there is disposed the entry portion I2 of a cap feed chute 34. The entry portion 32 is shaped to conform generally to the cylindrical shape of the magazine and magazine throat It, and at a lower corner is .bell mouthed from the main portion of the feed chute 34. At the lower end of the entry thereof for a portion of its length being of cy- .lindrical contour for the reception of a cylindrically shaped magazine or cap supply tube 20. The lower portion of the internal surface of the magazine throat I8 forms a shoulder supporting the magazine 20 and is inwardly tapered toward the lower extremity thereof, thus producing a slightly conical contour for the guiding of the caps to be fed therethrough. The magazine throat I8 is of circular cross section for the handling of circularly shaped articles. Of course, other contours may be selected to suit articles of other shapes.

For retaining articles in the magazine 20 and magazine throat I 8 for one-by-one removal, there is provided an article retaining device. This device includes a sleeve 22 suitably secured around the lower portion'oi the magazine throat IB-and extending axially thereof below its lower end. Within the sleeve 22, a ring 24 is provided to secure a retaining spring insert 26.. Suitable securing means, not shown, may be employed for removably fastening the retaining spring insert 26 between the ring 24 and the sleeve 22. Insert 26 is a sleeve-like member provided for supporting internally thereof a plurality of article retaining springs 28. These springs are directed radially inward of the insert 28 adjacent the lower extremity of the magazine throat l8. Thus, it will appear that. at the base of the magazine throat l8, displaceable retaining springs 28 form an escapement device for retaining articles in the magazine 20 and magazine throat it which are adapted to permit one-by-one removal of the portion 32 opposite the magazine throat l8 an aperture is provided for the passage therethrough of a cap withdrawing device which will be hereinafter described. The cap feed chute 34 is adjustably secured at its upper end to a bracket 38 mounted on the main frame l4. The bracket 36 has a slotted portion through which a suitable wing nut 38 adiustably secures and positions the entry portion 32 of the feed chute 34. The manner of supporting the remaining portion of the feed chute 24 will be hereinafter described.

For withdrawing caps 20 one at a time from the magazine throat ii, there is provided a suction cup 4|! preferably made of rubber or like material. The suction cup 40 is mounted on the end of an operating tube 42 having an axial passage 44 therethrough terminating in an axial passage through the suction cup 40. The operating tube 42 is slidably secured within a centrally bored portion of a piston 46 in an operating cylinder 50. The operating tube 42 is prevented from sliding axially out of the piston 48 in the direction of the suction cup by a flanged portion 43 at the end thereof within the piston 46. The operating tube 42 is adapted to slide to a limited extent into .the piston 46, and a coiled spring 48 is provided between the base of the suction cup 40 and the outer extremity of the piston 46 for cushioning inward movement of the suction cup 40 and operating tube 42 relative to piston 46 and for tending to maintain the suction cup 40 at its outward position relative to unnecessarily disturbing the stack of caps 30,

yet insuring sufflcient and adequate pressure of the suction cup 40 on the lowermost cap 30.

The suction cup 40 is reciprocated to and from the lowermost cap 30 in the magazine throat l8 from and to the entry portion 22 of the feed chute 34 through the movement of the piston 46 in its operating cylinder 50. The operating cylinder 50 is mounted by suitable fastening means, not shown, on a bracket II secured to main frame l4. The piston 46- is in sliding contact with the internal surface of the cylinder 50 throughout the lower portion of its-length. At the suction cup end of the operating cylinder,

tion-cup 46.

is. reduced portion of the piston 46 slidably passes through an externally threaded nut 52 received "within the outer end of the operating cylinder 56. The nut 52, when adjusted properly, is secured in place by a suitable set screw 54.

Surrounding the upper, reduced portion of piston 46 is a coiled spring 56 bearing at one end on a shoulder of the piston and at the other end on a spring seat 58 abutting against a rubber bumper block 66 immediately beneath the adjustable nut 52. The spring 56, it will thus appear, is adapted to urge the piston 46 in a downward direction and to move the same in that direction for downward movement of the suc- Upward movement of the piston 46 is adapted to be effected by the supply of air under pressure to the operating cylinder 56 at the lower end thereof through a pressure hose 62 and coupling 64 secured in thebase of the cylinder 56. Upward motion of the piston 46 is limited by the abutment of the shouldered portion of the piston 46 against axially extending portions of the spring seat 58, as shown in Figure line which is adapted to be connected through a valve, to be hereinafter described, with the pressure hose 62, abovementioned. The intake or suction side of the pump 88 is connected through a T I68, bushing H6, and nipple II2 to a suction hose II4, which is connected at its opposite extremity to the port I6 in the cylinder 56. At the end of T I68 not appearing in the drawing (Figure 1) a suction balancing valve is preferably provided, which may be adjusted to balance the air intake to pump 88 with that which it attempts to exhaust.

As has been described, when the piston 46 is in its uppermost position, as shown in Figure 1, the intake side of the pump 88 is in communication with the suction cup 46 through the pressure hose II4, port I6, port [4, central bore of piston 1. The rubber bumper' block 66 is adapted to cushion the final arresting of the upward motion of the piston 46. Downward movement of the piston 46 is arrested by a rubber bumper block 66 in the lower .end of cylinder 56, as shown in Figure 2. The central bore through the piston 46 hereinabove described is closed at the lower end of the piston 46 by means of a suitable plug 68. The piston 46 is secured against rotation in the cylinder 56 by a suitable set screw I6 having its inner end projecting within a suitable slotted way in the outer surface of the piston 46.

The passage 44 through the operating tube 42 for the suction cup 46 terminates in the enlarged central bore of the piston 46, which is closed at its lower extremity as aforesaid by the plug 68. In order to effect a suitable connection of the vacuum cup 46 with a suction producing apparatus during portions of the cycle of 'movement of the suction cup 46, a port 14 is provided in the side of the piston 46. This port is adapted to register with a suitable port I6 in the cylinder 56 when the piston is in the uppermost position (see Figure 1), and with a, similar port I8 in the cylinder 56 when the piston 46 is in the lowermost position (see Figure 2). A further port 86 is provided in the upperportion of cylinder 56 to permit communication between port 16 and the atmosphere when the piston 46 is in the lowermost position. A

From the above description it will be seen that the piston 46 is adapted to be urged upwardly by the application of .air pressure through the pressure hose 62 and coupling 64 in the base of cylinder 56. And likewise the piston 46 is adapted to be urged downwardly by the coiledspring 56. The apparatus for supplying air under pressure to the operating cylinder 56 and for producing suction in the suction cup 46 may now be described. i

Mountedon a suitable base 82 secured to the main frame is a suitable motor 84. Mounted on a similar base 86 secured to the main frame I4 at the upper portion thereof is a suitable pump 88. Pulleys 86 and 82 on the motor 84 and pump 88, respectively, are connected by a belt 84 for driving the pump 88 from motor 84. The exhaust or pressure side of the pump 88 is connected through an elbow 86, bushing 88, nipple I66, T I62, and nipple I64 to a pressure hose I66. The pressure hose I66 forms the pump exhaust 46 and passage 44 through operating tube 42. When the piston 46 is in its lowermost position, as shown in Figure 2, the intake side of the pump 88 is in communication with the atmosphere through the aforementioned pressure hose H4, port I6, and port 86, communication between port I6 and port 86 being established around the reduced portion of piston 46.- It will thus appear that suction is produced on suction cup 7 46 only during the uppermost portions of upward and downward movement thereof defined by the periods during which the ports I4 and I6 are in partial or complete registry. Vacuum in the suction cup is not released, however, until the port I4 registers with the port I8, which, in the embodiment of the invention here shown, communicates directly with the atmosphere. If it were desired, however, the port I8 could be connected with the exhaust side of the pump 88 in order to positively produce pressure in the suction cup 46 to insure removal of the cap 36 therefrom.

The suction cup 46 on its operating tube 42 and piston 46 is caused to move upwardly and then downwardly in the manner hereinabove described in response to thewperation of a control valve II6, shown particularly in- Figure 5.

the valve support rod I2 and is secured thereto by means of a set screw H8. The end of the control valve 6 adjacent the valve support rod I2 is internally closed by means of a suitable externally threaded nut I26. Disposed within the control Valve H6 is a valve piston I22 having a reduced extremity thereof extending axially through the outer end of the valve II6. Between the externally threaded nut I26 and the valve piston I22, there is disposed a suitable coiled spring I24 adapted to urge the valve piston toward the outer end of the valve II6. A suitable clevis I 26 is mounted in the reduced stem extending from the'end of the valve piston and carries at the extremity thereof a valve roller I28 secured therein 'by means of a suitable pin. Surrounding thevalve H6 at the outer end thereof is a yoke support I32, secured by a set screw I33, for supporting a valve operating lever I34. The valve operating lever I34 is pivto secure the same against rotation in valve H5.

The valve H is provided with a port I42 near the extemallythreaded nut I20 and with ports I44 through the end thereof surrounding the reduced portion of valve piston I22, for the escape of air when the valve piston I22 moves in one or the other direction. A lubricating orifice I45 is shown in valve II5 near yoke support I82. Ap roximately centrally of the valve II5, there is provided a port I45 therein and diametrically opposite thereto another port I48 therein, both vertically disposed. In approximatelythe same transverse plane, there is provided in valve III a port I50 intermediate between the ports I48 and I48, at 90 from each and horizontally disposed, and a port I52 intermediate between the ports I50 and I48, at 45 from each and thus disposed at a 45 angle of depression from the horizontal.

Near its inner end, the valve piston I22 is provided with a diametrical, vertical port I54 passing therethrough and adapted, when the valve piston is in its outermost position, to establish communication between ports I45 and I48 of the valve II5. There is likewise provided in the same transverse plane as the port I54, a chordal port I55 in valve piston I 22 parallel to the port I54 adapted, when the valve piston is in its outermost position, to establish communication between the ports I50 and I52 of the valve body II5. The aforementioned ports are all shown in registry, as described in Figure 3.

Near its outer end, the valve piston I22 is provided with a port I58 extending radially downward parallel to the port I54 to thecenter of the valve piston I22 and then, at right angles thereto, radially outward. This port I58, when the valve piston I 22 is in its innermost position, is adapted to establish communication between the ports I45 and I50 of thevalve body H5, and to close off any communication to or through the remaining ports. The port I58 is shown in Figure 4, but not in registry with the other ports.

The operating valve H5 is interconnected with the operating cylinder 50 and the pump 88 by connecting the pump exhaust line, i. e., pressure hose I05, with the port I45, and by connecting the cylinder pressure hose 52 with the port I50. It will thus appear that, when there is no object pressing the valve lever roller I38 and the valve lever I34 inwardly, the valve piston will be in its outermost position, shown in Figure 5. In such position, communication will be established between the exhaust side of the pump 88 and the atmosphere through the ports I45, I54, and I48. Further, the cylinder 50 will be in communication with the atmosphere by means of the connection through the pressure hose 52, and ports I50, I55, and I52. The position of the control valvepiston .I22 shown in Figure 5 and Figure 3, corresponds to the positionof the pishereinabove ducribed in' detail is applied to the feeding of caps from the magazine 28, through able bracket 88 on the main frame I4.

ton 45 the operating cylinder 50, shown in Figure 2. It will be readily understood that, whenthe port I58 of the valve piston I22, shown in-Figure 4,assumes the position of the ports I54 and. I55, shown in Figure 3, pressure will be directly-applied to the piston 45 in the cylin- The cap applying device 85 is adapted to receive the caps by gravity from the feed chute 84 and dispose them on the orifices of containers 8I here shown as passing thereunder on a conveyor 88. The cap applying device 85 is not here shown or described in detail since it may take any convenient form well known in the art. Reference is particularly made to the patent to Sharp et al. No. 2,096,346, issued October 19, 1937, wherein a cap applying device, such as the device 85 here mentioned, is fully disclosed, illustrated, and explained. It is suflicient to point out that such a cap applying device is adapted to apply or deposit one cap therefrom on the orifice of each container.

as it is passed thereunder.

For purposes of illustration, the conveyor 88 is a simple horizontal line conveyor adapted to move the bottles or containers 8I at right angles to the plane of the feed chute 84. The conveyor could take any form or position desired, suitable rearrangement of the feed chute 84 and valve II8 being permissible within the scope of the invention. I

The control valve II5, mounted on the valve supporting rod I2, is so positioned as to dispose the valve lever roller I88 partially in the path of the containers 8i. The control valve is so positioned in order that its valve piston I22 may be operated to and from the position shown in Figure 5 as each container 8| passes thereby. By this arrangement the control valve H5 is operative to cause the suction'cup 40 to remove one closure from the magazine throat I8 for each bottle or container 8| passing the control valve I I5.

The operation of the apparatus may be briefly summarized as follows. As a container 8i on conveyor 88 passes the valve lever roller I88, it moves the valve lever I84 to press upon the valve roller I 28 and move the valve piston I22 inwardly. Inward motion of the valve piston I22 disposes the port I58 (see Figure 4) thereof in position to connect pressure from the pump 88 to the operating cylinder 50. Immediately thereupon the piston 45 is moved upwardly to push suction cup 40 upwardly against the lowermost cap 80 in the magazine throat I8. As the port 1'4 of the piston 45 comes into coincidence with the port I5 of the operating cylinder 50, suction is produced on the suction cup 40 and a vacuum is created between the suction cup 40 and the lowermost cap 80, thus causing said cap to adhere to the suction cup.

Thereafter, as the container 8i passes suificiently beyond the valve lever roller I38, the valve "lever I84 and roller I88 are permitted to move outwardly. The coiled spring I24 pushes the valve piston I 22 and valve roller I28 to so move the valve lever I84. Thus, the valve piston I22 moves outwardly to establish communication of the exhaust side of the pump 88 with the atmosphere and of the operating cylinder 50 with the atmosphere. Immediately thereupon the return spring 55 in the operating cylinder 50 moves the piston 45 downwardly from the magazine throat I8 pulling the lowermost cap 80 from the stack of caps 80. As the port 14 of the piston 45 passes the port 15 of the operating cylinder 50, further vacuum is not created in the suction cup 40.

However, when the port 14 of the piston registers with the port 18 of the operating cylinder 50, the vacuum will be immediately relieved. It will thus appear that at the completion of the cycle of the suction cup 40, the cap 30 will be free thereof and permitted to fall into the feed chute 34. This is a complete cycle of operations and is a cycle established in response to the presence and the motion of a container 3|. I

In Figure '7 the control valve H6 has been shown' in position to sense the passage of containers 3i before they reach the cap applying device 35. It will, of course, be readily appreciated that the control valve I I6 could be placed anywhere in the path of movement of containers 3| so as to sense the containers 3| before, during, or after their passage under the cap applying device 35. It is preferred, of course, to employ the control valve H6 reasonably near the cap applying device 35 and preferably on the side thereof preceding the cap applying operation.

The invention has been herein described as embodied in a cap feeding apparatus, but it will ,be readily apparent that it has utility in other forms of article feeding apparatus coming within its scope.

What is claimed is:

l. A cap feeding apparatus comprising a cap magazine, means for retaining a stack of caps in said magazine, a cap feeding chute adjacent said magazine for delivering caps to moving containers, a suction cup for engaging and withdrawing successive caps from said magazine and delivering the same to said chute, an operating cylinder and piston for actuating said suction cup, a motor, a pump driven by said motor, means for operatively connecting the exhaust side of said pump with said cylinder, said piston in said cylinder being connected to said suction cup and adapted to be driven in at least one direction by pressure from the exhaust side of said pump, means for operatively connecting the intake side of said pump with said suction cup to produce suction during portions of its cycle of movement, said pump intake connecting means including a port in said cylinder, a port in said piston, and a passage through said piston connecting said piston port with said suction cup, whereby the suction cup is energized in response to the movement of the piston, and means for actuating said pump exhaust connecting means in response to the movement of the aforesaid containers receiving caps from said chute.

2. A cap feeding apparatus comprising a cap magazine, means for retaining a stack of caps in said magazine, a cap feeding chute adjacent said magazine for delivering caps to moving containers, a suction cup for engaging and withdrawing successive caps from said magazine and delivering the same to said chute,-an operating cylinder and piston for actuating said suction cup, a motor, a pump driven by said motor, means for operatively connecting the exhaust side of said pump with said cylinder, said piston in said cylinder being connected to said suction cup and adapted to be driven in at least one direction by pressure from the exhaust side of said pump, means including a passage through said piston to said suction cup for operatively connecting the intake side of said pump with said suction cup to produce suction during portions of its cycle of movement, and means for actuating'said pump exhaust connecting means in response to the movement of the aforesaid containers receiving caps from said chute.

GEORGE w. CARVEY. 

